Volume 26, Issue 3 pp. 369-376

Effects of spider Macrothele raven venom on cell proliferation and cytotoxicity in HeLa cells1

Li GAO

Li GAO

College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China;

College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050016, China;

Now in College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050016, China.

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Bao-en SHAN

Bao-en SHAN

Research Centre, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050011, China;

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Jing CHEN

Jing CHEN

Clinical Laboratory, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang 050082, China;

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Jiang-hui LIU

Jiang-hui LIU

Hebei Provincial Tumor Institute, Shijiazhuang 050011, China;

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Da-xiang SONG

Da-xiang SONG

College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China;

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Bao-cheng ZHU

Corresponding Author

Bao-cheng ZHU

College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China;

College of Life Science, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding 071001, China

Correspondence to Prof Bao-cheng ZHU.
Phn/Fax 86-312-507-9718.
E-mail [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
First published: 16 February 2005
Citations: 2
1

Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No 30371753).

Abstract

Aim: To examine the effect of venom from the spider Macrothele raven on cell proliferation and cytotoxicity in human cervical carcinoma, HeLa cells.

Methods: Morphological and biochemical signs of apoptosis appeared using acridine orange- ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining. Marked morphological changes in HeLa cells after treatment with spider venom were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cell proliferation and cytotoxicity were determined by [methyl-3H] thymidine assay ([3H]TdR) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, respectively. DNA fragmentation and cell cycle distribution were monitored using flow cytometry. In addition, Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the level of caspase-3 expression. In vivo examination of the inhibition of the size of tumors in nude mice treated with spider venom was measured.

Results: Marked morphological changes were observed using AO/EB staining, SEM and TEM assay. Spider venom at concentrations of 10-40 mg/L caused dose- and time-dependent inhibition of HeLa cell proliferation. The ratio of apoptosis and necrosis increased. The activity of caspase-3 was upregulated after spider venom treatment. In vivo study of tumor size revealed that tumors significantly decreased in size from controls to tumors treated for 3 weeks with spider venom (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The inhibition of HeLa cells by the venom of the spider Macrothele raveni was carried out in three ways: induction of apoptosis, necrosis of toxicity damage and direct lysis. Spider venom is a novel anti-tumor material both in vitro and in vivo.

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